Chapter 7
On its cover were five words:
REYNOLDS FAMILY CONTINGENT BENEFICIARY FILE
She handed it to me.
I opened it.
The first document was dated nine months before my divorce.
It contained a provision identifying any biological children of Daniel Reynolds as contingent beneficiaries of a separate family education and medical trust.
The second document was dated six weeks after my quadruplets were born.
It requested a review of potential beneficiaries.
Attached were four photographs.
My children.
Inside their incubators.
I recognized every blanket.
Every tiny knitted cap.
Every fragile face.
My hands began shaking.
“Where did you get these?”
Margaret's voice was barely audible.
“I took them.”
I stared at the photographs.
She had been close enough to take pictures.
Close enough to see the babies.
Close enough to understand what I was enduring.
Yet she had walked away.
A tear fell onto the page.
I wiped it away angrily.
Then I saw the next document.
A letter addressed to the trustee.
Its subject line read:
Disputed Paternity — Temporary Suspension of Beneficiary Determination.
The letter carried Daniel's name.
And what appeared to be his signature.
I looked up.
“Daniel?”
He took the page.
His expression changed.
“I've never seen this.”
I searched his face.
For once, he didn't look arrogant.
He looked genuinely confused.
Margaret whispered, “Robert told me you signed it.”
Daniel read the letter again.
Then shook his head.
“No.”
He looked at his mother.
“I never signed this.”
Rebecca stepped closer.
“Then who did?”
Nobody answered.
But I was beginning to understand.
General Reynolds had not merely wanted his son divorced.
He had wanted my children erased from the family's future.
And somebody had helped him.
## THE SIGNATURE THAT SHOULDN'T EXIST
Daniel carried the disputed letter toward the desk lamp.
He examined the signature carefully.
“This isn't mine.”
I crossed my arms.
“That's a serious allegation.”
“I know my own signature.”
“Then you'll have no objection to an independent examination.”
He looked at me.
For the first time that evening, he didn't challenge my words.
“No objection.”
Victoria stepped beside him.
“Daniel, did you know about the trust?”
“I knew there were family provisions for descendants.
I didn't know any review had been initiated.”
Rebecca reached for another document.
“Wait.”
Her expression tightened.
“This letter was witnessed.”
I looked over her shoulder.
Two names appeared beneath the signature.
One belonged to a former Reynolds family attorney.